Isolation and characterization of homologues of plant blue-light photoreceptor (cryptochrome) genes from the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris

Many blue-light mediated physiological responses have been studied in the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris. We have isolated genomic clones encoding sequences similar to those encoding blue-light photoreceptors (cryptochromes) in higher plants using the Arabidopsis CRY1 cDNA as a probe, and these positive clones fall into five independent groups. Using RACE procedures, we obtained full-length cDNA sequences for three of these five groups. The deduced amino acid sequences include the photolyase-homologous domain in the N-terminal half, and they also contain a C-terminal extension of about 200 amino acids in length. These structural features indicate that the genes indeed encode Adiantum cryptochromes and represent a small gene family having at least three members.     

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a cDNA for the r{beta} Subunit of a G Protein from Rice

We isolated a cDNA for the rß subunit of a heterotrimericG protein from rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). The aminoacid sequence deduced from the cDNA was 76% and 94% homologusto the sequences of the rß subunits from Arabidopsisand maize (AGrß1 and ZGrß1), respectively. (Received July 28, 1995; Accepted December 25, 1995)